From Chaville to Versailles through the national forests

Starting point and access: Chaville-Rive-Gauche station.
- Transilien - Line N, on the section between Paris-Montparnasse and Versailles-Chantiers.
Take the only exit onto Rue Anatole France.

Yellow markings

(S) When leaving the station, turn left and go under the railway bridge. On the other side, turn left onto Rue des Huit Bouteilles towards the cemetery and go uphill. At a fork, turn right (no entry). Opposite the cemetery entrance, turn right and walk along the cemetery wall. At the end of the wall, continue straight ahead and ignore a path on the left and then one on the right.

(1) At the T-junction (bench), follow a stabilised path to the left. Go slightly uphill, ignore a path on the right (bench), turn left with the path and walk along a lawn on your left. Go through a metal gate and then a forest barrier and you will immediately come to a crossroads.

Red and yellow + yellow markings

(2) Turn right and descend. Shortly afterwards, cross a small road and continue on the path opposite (plot no. 67). Descend gently and go straight ahead at each crossroads. Shortly before leaving the forest, the path gives way to a trail. Come out onto Rue Alexis Maneyrol and follow it as it continues. Cross Rue Sablée on the right-hand side, follow Rue de la Morte Bouteille and pass through a metal barrier (Étang d'Ursine on the right).

(3) Immediately afterwards, turn left onto a discreet path that enters the forest (be careful to spot this start). Shortly afterwards, cross a perpendicular path and continue straight ahead uphill. Gradually, the path widens and the slope becomes steeper. Ignore a path coming from the left and you will soon reach a crossroads on a flat area.

Red and yellow + red and white markings

(4) Then follow a wide, flat path to the right. Stay on the main marked path, go straight ahead at each junction and ignore any paths branching off to the sides. This will take you to the Chêne des Missions, located on the left and surrounded by pseudo-megaliths.

(5) Continue straight ahead and you will soon reach a crossroads.

Red and white markings

(6) Take the first right, a small tarmac road, and follow the GR®22. When the road turns right, continue straight ahead on a wide path and immediately ignore a path on the left. Follow the marked path.

(7) Just before a yellow sign with two sides, turn right onto a steep descent on a path interspersed with erosion control bars. At the crossroads at the bottom, turn left. Go straight ahead at the next two crossroads. You will then reach a crossroads (water treatment plant on the left).

(8) Take the second path on the right and walk along the Étang du Trou aux Gants on your left (beautiful view from the spillway). At the T-junction, first turn right then left and climb slightly. Then walk along the wall of a cemetery on your left.

(9) At the crossroads at the corner of the cemetery, go straight ahead (plot no. 85). Join another path and follow it to the right. At a crossroads, continue straight ahead and follow a fitness trail marked with exercise equipment.

(10) At the next crossroads, take the third path on the left and walk along a lawn on your right. At a fork (map of the fitness trail), turn right, immediately join a street and follow it to the right. At the traffic lights, cross the tram line and the D53 in several stages. On the other side, follow the road to the right and pass the sign for the entrance to Vélizy-Villacoublay (seen from behind).

(11) Immediately turn left onto a path that enters the forest. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead. Then take the first path on the left, surrounded by vegetation. This leads to a wide path, which you follow to the right until you reach a crossroads.

(12) Then take the first left. At the first crossroads, go straight ahead. At the next crossroads, take the second path on the left, the widest of them all.

(13) At a crossroads near some houses (on the left), continue straight ahead. Ignore a few paths on the right. At a three-way junction, turn left.

(14) At a T-junction, follow a stabilised path to the left. After about 100 metres and before a forest barrier, turn right and cross the A86 motorway (not visible as it goes underground at this point, but you can hear the traffic). On the other side, at a fork, turn left.

(15) Shortly before a forest barrier, turn right, cross a tarmac road and take the Route du Pavé. At the first junction (Carrefour des Mares), turn right. At the next junction (plot no. 91), continue straight ahead.

(16) At the next junction, follow the Route Ferrée to the left. Continue straight ahead, cross two perpendicular paths and pass the Carrefour des Perches. This will take you to the Carrefour de la Butte.

(17) Turn right and, shortly afterwards, turn left onto a path. Descend steeply. Ignore a path on the right and arrive at the edge of the D446 (Petit-Jouy-Les Loges station opposite).

(18) Follow the road to the left. At the traffic lights, turn right to cross the road and follow it to the left. Immediately turn right towards Buc and go through a tunnel under the railway line (narrow passage). Just after a bicycle shelter, turn right onto a path that enters the forest. Shortly afterwards, ignore a path on the right. Continue straight ahead until you reach a crossroads near a small road.

(19) There are two options here:

Red and white markings
- If you wish to stay on the GR®22, continue straight ahead and follow this hike from its starting point (22) to Versailles-Chantiers station (E).

Without markings
- Otherwise, as shown on the map, turn right and go up Route des Noyers. At the top (yellow sign with two sides), turn left. Walk along a fence on your right, then a young pine forest. Ignore a trail on the left and turn right onto the main path. Then ignore two trails on the left and go straight ahead on a stabilised path.

(20) At the crossroads, turn right onto Route des Arcades towards Versailles-Chantiers station. At the crossroads, continue straight ahead.

(21) At the crossroads, take the second left, Route du Haras, which is more of a path, still heading towards Versailles-Chantiers station. Continue straight ahead and ignore all the paths branching off to the sides. After about 600 m, descend steadily.

Red and white markings

(22) At the crossroads at the bottom, continue along a shaded path. At the end, follow a road to the left. At the traffic lights, cross the D939 at the pedestrian crossing, follow it to the right and pass under the motorway bridge.

No markings

(23) On the other side, turn right to cross the D939 again at the pedestrian crossing. Follow the road to the left on the right-hand pavement (the left-hand pavement is reserved for cyclists). Continue downhill at a steady pace. Shortly after a funeral parlour, turn left, cross the D939 one last time and you will immediately arrive at the south entrance of Versailles-Chantiers station (E).

To return home:
- RER - Line C, towards Paris (then Dourdan or Étampes) or Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines.
- Transilien -
line N, towards Paris-Montparnasse, Rambouillet, Dreux or Mantes-la-Jolie.
line U, towards La Défense or La Verrière.
. Line V, towards Massy-Palaiseau.

Train timetables: consult the Transilien website.

For motorists:
Both stations are on the same section of line N: park in the car park of one of the two stations and take the train to or from the other.

Hiking boots are recommended.

No water sources identified along the route. Drinks and snacks available at Versailles-Chantiers station (E).

A detailed map is useful (at least the one accompanying this description). To follow the route with the Visorando app, download both the IGN map and the OSM map.

Hike completed by the author on 28 September 2025.

- Pleasant forest trails.
- Chêne des Missions (5), a remarkable tree surrounded by pseudo-megaliths.
- Étang du Trou aux Gants (8).